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Manuscript Group 348, Lewis Condict (1773-1862), Physician and statesman
Diary, 1795, 1 volume
Call Number: MG 348
Kept on a trip from Morristown, New Jersey to Greenfield, Kentucky, and on the return trip as far as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Gift of Miss Sophia W. Condict (ca. 1845).
Lewis Condict was a physician of Morristown (Morris County) who received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, 1794. He was a member of Congress from New Jersey, 1811-1817, 1819-1833; First President of the Morris and Essex Railroad, 1835; trustee of the College of New Jersey (Princeton University), 1827-1861.
The diary records Condict’s 1795 horseback journey from Morristown, New Jersey to visit his mother and relatives at Cox’s Creek in the Salt River Valley of Kentucky and part of the return trip as far as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Major John Kinney and Silas Cook, both of New Jersey, were his companions.
The first part of the trip (June 8-July 30) took Condict through what is now Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. The return trip went through Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The diary chronicles details of people, towns, taverns, geography, and various flora and fauna he encountered in these regions.
Condict described the following locations: Pennsylvania—Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, Carterstown, Sunburry, Aaronsberg (or “Jewstown”), Pittsburgh, Harrisburgh; Ohio—Wheeling, Marietta, Gallipolis, Cincinnati/Fort Washington, North Bend; Kentucky—Georgetown, Lexington, “Greenfield” near Lexington, Davis; Virginia—Hawkins Courthouse, Abingdon, Montgomery, Lexington, Winchester.
The diary also includes references and accounts of the Dunkard family, Colonel Hendricks, Chief Flying Cloud and Indian activities around Fort Washington, Judge Symmes of North Bend, Peyton Short of Kentucky, and various “Dutchmen” who provided lodging for the travel party.
Full transcription of the diary appears in Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society (n.s., vol. 1, 1919, pp: 108-127)
Manuscript Group 67, Lewis Condict (1773-1862) Papers
Manuscript Group 123, Jemima Condict (1754-1779) Diary
Manuscript Group 324, Ruth W. Condict (1798-1815) Diary
Manuscript Group 454, Condit-Dodd Family Papers
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